Fastener-feeding mechanism



W. C. STEWART.

FASTENER FEEDING MECHANISM.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1920. 1,398,346.

- Patelited Nov. 29

Fig. l.

T 0 all 10 from it may concern WILLIAM C. STEWART, 0F SWAMPSCO'IT,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OFPATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

FASTENER-FEEDING mnci ranisrr.

incest-e.

Original application filed January 23, 1919, Serial No. 272,683 PatentNo. 1,364,215, dated January 4,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1512i.

1921. Divided, and this application filed MaLrchB, 1920. Serial No.362,980.

4 Be it knownthat I, lViLLrAM C. STEWART, a subject of the King ofEngland, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in astener-FeedingMechanisms, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters onthe drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to fastener feeding mechanisms and is hereinillustrated by reference to a tacking mechanism designed for use inmachines for pulling uppersover lasts in the manufacture of boots andshoes, the present application being a division of my prior applicationSerial No. 272,688, filed on January 23, 1919, which has matured intoPatent 1,36%,215, granted Jan. 1, 1921. It is to be understood, however,that the invention is not limited in its applicability to thatparticular kind of machine nor restricted to the use of fasteners in theform of tacks. I

In the use of a tacking mechanism comprising, as in the constructionshown, a tack separator and conduits or tubes through which the tacksare conducted to the driving means it sometimes happens that throughmisplacement of a tack or from any misplaced tacks, as well as to renderit more readily apparent when the separator is working properly, it isalso the practice to detach some or all of the conducting tubes or partsof such tubes. When this is done, howeventacks sometimes fall from theseparating means into the interior of the machine where, if they arepermitted to remain, they may interfere with the proper operation of themachine or may cause serious damage. The fact that a tack has thus faHeninto the machine may not be noted by the operator, and in any event thedificulty oflocating and of removing such a tack,particularly in acomplicated machine objects are attained in the construction shown bythe use of a member arranged to rest normally in an idle positionagainst detachable conducting tubes in such manner that upon detachmentof the tubes the member tips automatically into position to receive anytacks that. may be discharged from the separatcrat those points, thismember in the illustrative construction acting as a defiector to directthe tacks-into a receptacle. In its application toan organization suchas shown in which different tubes or groups of tubes are detachableindependently, the invention further provides diilerent membersindependently movable into position to perform the required function.

y The above and other features of the inventime, including certaindetails of construction and combinations of parts, will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the claims.

in the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the upperportion 7 of a pulling over machine provided with fastening mechanism inwhich the present invention is incorporated, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective View on an enlarged scale of a portion of themechanism shown in Fig. l.

Mounted on the head of the machine is a hopper 48 whereby loose tacksaresupplied to tack delivery means comprising a plural-' ity of raceways 50and a separator 52 which is movable transversely across the lower endsof the raceways and is adapted to support individual tacks and deliverthem through discharge openings intoconducting tubes 54 which lead tothe tack driving-mechanism (not shown). Thetubes 54 are detachablyconnected to the lower ends of short delivery tubes56 rigidly'mounted atsaid discharge openings under the separator slide 52,, and

are arranged in groups, comprising in the construction shown two groupsof three and an intermediate group of two, the tubes of each group beingconnected together and detachable as a unit. In order to afford accessto the separator in case the latter fails to perform its functionproperly, there is provided in front of the separator slide a removableend block 58. These parts comprise an organization of a well-known typefeatures of which are more fully shown and described in prior patents,particularly in Patent No. 1,002,422 granted on September 5, 1911 uponan application of F. Mcl eely, to which reference be made for a moredefinite understanding of the construction. F or purposes of the presentinvention there is secured to a portion of the supporting structure atack receptacle 59 which extends under the tack delivery mechanism atthe rear of the conducting tubes 54c. Hinged on a rod 60 which ismountedin lugs 62 in the receptacle 59 are chutes or deflectors 64- wh'ich aremounted to swing, each independently of the others, and are arranged torest normally in an idle position against the tubes 54, the constructionshown comprising a separate chute for each of the removable groups oftubes. Eachof the members 64c is thus, constantly in position to beswung, for example by gravity, underneath the lower ends of thecorresponding short delivery tubes 56 in the event of detachment of theassociated group of conducting tubes 54. Any tack or tacks dischargedfrom the corresponding tubes 56 will thus be caught and deflected intothe receptacle 59. In addition to the receptacle 59 there is provided asecond receptacle 66 arranged to extend along in front of the tubes 5iin position to catch any tacks which may fall from the front of thedelivery mechanism after the block .58. is removed. Between thereceptacles 59 and 66 a space is thus provided for'the passage of thetubes 54, and the members 64am arranged to prevent tacks from fallingthrough this space upon their discharge from the tubes 56 when the tubes54 are detached.

In theuse of the mechanism the operator, in the event of failure ofdelivery'of tacks to one or more of the tack drivers, detaches a groupor groups of conducting tubes 5% from the delivery tubes 56 and byworking the separator 52 back and forth attempts to dislodge any tackwhich obstructs the proper movement of the separator. Immediately uponremoval of a group of tubes 5d the corresponding chute or deflector easwings: under'the ends of the corresponding tubes 56 into position tocatch any tacks delivered from the separator through thesetubes and thusto'prevent any tacks thus discharged 7 from falling into the interior ofthe machine. If necessary also the end block 58 may be removed to affordaccessto the separator, and if this is done the front receptacle.

etlserves to catch any tacks that may drop from the front of themechanism. Effective insurance is thus ad'orded against'damage to theoperating parts of the machine and against loss of time insearching forand re moving tacks that may have fallen into the machine.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is in a fastener feedingmechanism, the

1 J;- co noination with parts relatively displaceable to assist inclearing the mechanism of misplaced fasteners, of means movableautomatically in consequence of such relative position to receivefasteners released from said mechanism.

In afastener feeding mechanism, the

mechanism, the delivery means, fasteners delivered by said means, saidconduit being so mounted as to permit to be disconnected from thedelivery means, and means mounted for movement automatically inconsequence of disconnection of the conduit into position to receivefasteners discharged from said delivery means.

displacement of parts of the mechanism into 4-. In a fastenerfeedingmechanism the combination with fastener delivery means,

ofa conduit for receiving fasteners delivered by said means, saidconduit being so mounted as to permit it to be displaced from operativeposition, a receptacle for fasten ers, and a chutearranged to restnormally against said conduit and when the conduit is displaced o moveinto such relation to the delivery means to direct into said receptaclefasteners discharged) from said means; V

In a fastener eeding mechanism, the combination with IZLS JGIIQIdeliverymeans, of a conduit for receiving fasteners delivered by saidmeans, said conduit being so mounted as to permit it to be disconnectedfrom the delivery means, a receptacle for fasteners, anda pivotallymounted chute ar ranged to rest norinallyagainst said conduit r and toswing automatically in consequence of disconnection of the conduit intoposition to direct into said. receptacle fasteners discharged from thedelivery means.

6. l'nmechanism of the class described,

the combination with fastener separating means and removable tubes forconducting fasteners therefrom, of means arranged to extend under saidseparating means in front and in back of said tubes for receivingmisplaced fasteners while leaving a space between its front and rearportions through which the tubes extend, and a deflector arranged toassume automatically a position such as to prevent fasteners fromfalling through said space when the tubes are removed.

7. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with fastener.separating means, short tubes extending downwardly therefrom, andconducting tubes detachably connected to said short tubes, of areceptacle arranged to extend along side of said conducting tubes forreceiving fasteners dis charged from the separating means, anddefleeting means arranged to rest normally against said conducting tubesand to move into position under the ends of the short tubes when theconducting tubes are detached. o

8. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with fastenerseparating means and a plurality of groups of detachable conductingtubes connected to said means, of a receptacle arranged to extend alongside of said tubes for receiving tacks discharged from the separatingmeans, and a plurality of deflectors corresponding respectively to thedifferent groups of tubes, each of said deflectors being mounted toswing into position to receive fasteners discharged from the separatingmeans when its group of tubes is detached and to direct such fastenersinto the receptacle.

9. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with fastenerseparating means and a conduit detachably connected to said separatingmeans, of a fastener receiving member arranged to rest normally in anidle position against said conduit below the separating means andautomatically movable upon detachment of the conduit into positiontointercept fasteners that fall from the separating means.

10. In mechanism of the class described,

the combination with fastener delivery -means provided with a dischargeopening,

and a detachable conduit for conducting fasteners from said opening, ofa member mounted for movement under said opening into position toreceive fasteners discharged therefrom when said conduitis detached.

11. In mechanism of the class described,

the combination with means for separating tomatically in consequence ofsuch displacementof the tube into a position beneath the point ofdelivery of the fasteners for intercepting fasteners released from theseparating means after the tube has been displaced.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM C. STEWART.

